Carbon cutter



July 7, 1931. HASTINGS 1,813,289

CARBON CUTTER Filed April '7, 1928 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY,

Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES DOUGLAS H. HASTINGS, OF WEST SANDLAKE, NEW YORK crimson CUTTER Application filed April 7,

This invention relates to methods and means for cleaning and securingthe carbon and other residue from the interior surfaces of internalcombustion engines;

The object of this invention is to provide improved carbon cutterswhereby carbon and other residue'which normally collects on the interiorsurfaces of internal combustion engines, i. e. the piston heads,cylinder heads, valves, valve pockets etc., may be readily andthoroughly loosened from such surfaces mechanically, and be discharged,together with the cutting or loosening means, through the exhaust portsof the engine; and which may be introduced into the cylinders throughthe usual spark plug openings, thereby making it possible to thoroughlyclean all such interior surfaces without the necessity for dismantlingand re-assembling of any parts of the engine, other than to remove andreplace the spark plugs once each time it may be necessary or desirablethat the carbon etc. be removed. a

This present invention is'an improvement over the carbon cuttersdisclosed by United States patent to D. D. Getman, No. 1,357,632. It,however differs therefrom in certain important features and in a newmethod which I have discovered to be absolutely essential forefliciently and satisfactorily cleaning the cylinders.

My improved carbon cutters are illustrated by the accompanying drawings,and my im- V proved process will be understood from the followingdescription.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the top part of an L-head type ofmotor, showing my improved carbon cutters introduced there- 1n.

Fig. '2 is a perspective View, on an enlarged scale, of one of myimproved carbon cutters; and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate a few of the pos-' sible modifications inform.

The same reference characters refer to the same parts throughout theseveral figures.

Referring to the drawings, 2 represents a part of a cylinder of anL-head type of internal combustion engine, 3 a piston, 5 a spark 1928.Serial N0. 268,311.

plug, 6 an exhaust valve, and 7 my improved carbon cutters.

My improved carbon cutters are preferably of tubular-form and have alength slightly greater than the diameter thereof; the dimen sions aresuch that they'may be easily introduced through the usual spark plugopenings, but as long as they retain their normal form will not pass outthrough the exhaust valves when they open normally. The weight of thecutters is so slight and their hollow form is such that they will bemoved and carried about under the urge of the incoming fuel charge, andthe outgoing gases, as well as under. the urge of the pistons and valveswhen the motor is running. The cutters may be seamless, or the seams maybe brazed, or the. adjoining edges of the piece of material from whichit is made may be simply butted together, or lapped and left free.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the edges of the cylindrical cutters 7 are shown incontact by abutment and the ends are shown cut in planes at an angle toa plane at right angles to the axis. Fig. 3 shows a cutter 7a with theedges in abutment but which are slightly offset at the ends. Fig. 4shows a cutter 7 b of a form similar to Fig. 3, except the tube is ofhexagonal form instead of circular. Fig. 5 showsv a cutter 7 0 oftubular form rolled up in the form of a helix from a comparativelynarrow strip of metal and with the successive turns in abutment at theiredges.

While I now prefer to make my improved cutters of a copper-zinc alloy(rolled sheet .008 to .018 inches in thickness and containing from 60%to of copper) I may make them of any other suitable composition, metal,or substance which will withstand for a sufliciently long period of timethe conditions to which such carbon cutters are necessarilysubjected inservice, but which will eventually so compact, or disintegrate, or boththat they will be carried out through the exhaust ports along with theproducts of combustion. And while I now believe a tubular form of cutterto be preferable, and that they should be of uniform thicknessthroughout, numerous other forms might be employed without departingfrom the spirit of this invention.

My improved carbon cutters are used and operate in the following manner:

A number of the cutters, usually four or more are introduced through thespark plug openings into each cylinder of the engine, which is thenstarted and run at idling speed for from three to twelve minutes (orlonger) at the end of which period it will be found that the cutterswhich were in the cylinders have disappeared therefrom, and also thecarbon and other residue which was present at the time they wereintroduced.

My improved cutters are of an entirely different character than priorcutters and the process by which they clean the interior of thecylinders is entirely different. Heretofore the weight and form of thecutters have been such that they are merely bounced or thrown by thepistons and always lodge in the side wall pockets and stay there after afew move ments and are also likely to damage the spark plug points andcrack and destroy their insulation material, as well as damage thevalves and other parts by their heavy impact. The result is that theyfail to clean, also damage the parts and do not properly disintegrate orcompact so as to be discharged harmlessly through the exhaust ports.

In accordance with my invention, the cutters are of such form and ofsuch weight that the process of cleaning is brought about by their beingcarried around with the varying flow of the gases. Their movement isalso affected by the movement of the pistons. They can never lodgepermanently or find any periods of rest in the wall pockets, because theflow of the gases keeps them in constant motion. They clean effectivelyand rapidly without damage to the parts by reason of their light weightand form. Their inner space and light weight permits the gases to sweepthem around in every direction with constant movement, giving them arapid varied movement which effectively but lightly cuts and chips awaythe foreign material without damage to any of the exposed surfaces. Theheat of the gases and parts causes the cutters to gradually break anddisintegrate, so that after an ellective cleaning action, they break upinto particles that are harmlessly carried out through the exhaustports.

I claim 1. A carbon cutter comprising a length. of tubing made from acopper-zinc composition having a thickness of from .008 to .018 inches,the length of said tubing being about equal to the diameter thereof,both length and diame ter being too great to permit same to pass,without distortion beneath the exhaust valve of an internal combustionengine in which the cutter is designed to be used.

2. A carbon cutter comprising a tubular form made from a compositionmetal of substantially uniform thickness containing from to 95% ofcopper, the length of said form being about equal to the diameter thereof, the size thereof being too great to permit it to pass, withoutdistortion the exhaust valve of an engine in which it is designed to beused, when said valve is opened but a normal distance.

3. The method of cleaning the interior surface of an internal combustionengine cylinder which comprises placing a device in the cylinder, andimpacting said device against the interior surfaces of said cylinderdirectly 11y a flow of gases into and out of said cylinc er.

4. The method of cleaning the interior surface of an internal combustionengine cylinder which comprises placing a device in the cylinder, andcausing said device to be carried about and impacted against theinterior of said cylinder directly by the flow of gases in and out ofthe ports of said cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have atfixed my sig nature.

DOUGLAS H. HASTINGS.

